Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-03-31
Amusing a Millionaire.

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in dismay.
'Yaw!' he yawned in an excess of
boredom as he raised his eyebrows
and rammed his hands deep into bis
pockets, It's slow; monstrously slow
Apparently it was. One or two
men in faultless attire smoked nesr the
window. Others sprawled in languid
desperation in the deep arm-chairs. and
an eminent stock speculator added
drowsiness to it by snoring with snb-
tie but penetrating regularity in the
corner. 1t was sultry night, and
the negro walters mopped their black
faces as they whispered together in the
corridor. The ennuied millionaire
could almost hear the tapping of the
water in the tarbor against the sides
of his beautiful steam yacht. His
horses moved uneasily in the heat
without and ratified the big pole chain
impatiently.
1t was nearly midnight in the Queen
of American watering places and moth
ing was going on. The millionaire
kicked his heels peevishly against the
table and motioned to one of the
walters. They all scrambled forward
in such haste that the oldest one slipped
and almost fell. The great man
smiled, whereat wave of JOY passed
over the dusky group, and all but one
retired with teeth in full review. Who
is unhappy when a millionaire smiles!
rs the campagne we'll iced?' asked the
man of means, good naturedly.
1T is indeed, sab. De las bottle
.wuz froze dead hard.
Bring me some.'
When the waiter poured it out it
was so cold that it dribbled slowly in
to the glass and sent up a milk white
mist almost as thick as foam that
raced to the top of the glasses, while
the dew gathered in beads on the bot
tie. The millionaire smiled gently as
he gazed at 'the campagne, and then
he glanced at the painting waiter.
Would you like to shiver, Thomas?'
he asked solemnly.
Me, sab?' said the waiter with a
chuckle. 'Dere amt not'in in dis heah
wuld I'D make me shivah t'night
sah- nom deedy.,
'Oh, yes, there is.'
'Scush me, sab, but I'm roastin', l
am; NJ dom b'lieve I'll evah' be coP
again.
I'll make you shiver in two minutes
by the watch, or I'll give you fifty
dollars
go ahead, sah!'
Without more ado the millionaire
took the champagne bottle from the
others hand, turned it upside down
thrust it calmy down the back of the
darkey's neck, and left it there while
the campagne dripped gently down the
walters spine. Then. watch in hand,
be waited while the loungers sat up,
and the walters moved in from the
corridors with their eyes fairly start
ing from their heads.
Dom you shivab, 20 fool, said the
foremost of them in q hoarse whisper
to Thomas. OF " do I'll -I'll kick
yo' head often y body shuh! Y got
a chance f'ter pay me dem sewing dol
labs now, an if y miss I'll lam VI
will fer fac'
Meanwhile the waiter stood there
with pursed lips, staring eyes, and
clenched fists. His head bent for
ward, and his legs spread apart, while
his breath came in snorts. The
loungers were crowding round with
their watches in their hands making
bets rapidly, while the time wore slow
ly away. Presently the millionaire
shouted:
One minute!
Oh! moaned Thomas in voice like
the soulful roar of cavern by the sea,
Pm a-goin, I'm agoin!'
Remember dem sewing dollyehs!
There was an awful hush, the sound
of the grinding of teeth, wild Huh
wu-wu-whoooo!' followed by helpless
chattering, and Thomas stood shaking
like an aspen leaf, with one eye turued
on the seven dollar man,
while the other sought the face of the
millionaire. One after another the
walters assayed the test, and for two
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